Father’s Day: Doggie-Inspired Sandwich Cookies

This morning Abbey, the hound, woke me up at 6 a.m. Because I hadn’t gone to bed until 12:30 a.m., and neither had she, I was astonished and angry. But then I realized that today is Father’s Day and we had already talked about making Grandpa some doggie-inspired sandwich cookies to thank him for all of the pool parties and mid-afternoon visits while Kevin and I were at work. Also these cookies would’ve been great for their dad as well, if he weren’t in California digging trenches on the beach with the Marines.

Would You Run for Chocolate?

Three ladies getting excited to run the 5K in freezing temperatures.

On Saturday morning, DFW experienced its first winter day. We awoke to below-freezing temperatures and an e-mail warning us about hypothermia. Yet The Sassy Writer, my mother-in-law Kathi and I piled in my car and headed to Dallas’ Fair Park for the Hot Chocolate 5K, raising the question: What won’t we do for chocolate?

Last Supper: The Night Before the Cleanse

The last burritos before the cleanse (cue evil laughter)...

It’s Fat Friday here on Washington Ave, except only baby Nola is sharing it with me. And she’s not really sharing it because she’s going to keep eating her dog food. For my last meal I decided to go with my favorite foods. I’m not proud of this menu, but it is what it is—delicious: a glass of cab sav (from southern Australia but nothing to write to the ‘roos about), 2 homemade bean burritos doused with Louisiana Hot Sauce (be proud; I fought the urge to go to Yucatan for my second burrito feast of the week), a Greek salad topped with loads of feta and balsamic vinaigrette, and a partially eaten bag of bittersweet Ghiradelli chocolate chips. Can I get a what-what? Ah… If every night could be this good. Tomorrow the juice is loose.

Is Homemade Nutella as Good as the Real Thing?

Hazelnuts and chocolate: Is this pair the new peanut butter and chocolate?

My latest cookbook, Ancient Grains for Modern Meals by Maria Speck, is proving to be one of my favorites, and here’s why: page 70. That page is home to a recipe for Decadent Chocolate-Hazelnut Butter. Kevin says I’m obsessed with nutella the way he’s obsessed with duck fat. I’m pretty sure that’s not true because I’m not sneaking nutella into my spaghetti. But nutella is one of the loves of my life. So, I decided to accept Speck’s challenge and create this delicious confection for myself.